What is the cost of living in Kahului, HI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kahului has an overall cost of living index of 170, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Hawaii, Kahului has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Hawaii's index of 163.
The standard of living in Kahului ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 52 places we measured in Hawaii. By definition, that implies Kahului ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Aloha State.
For more reading on life in Kahului, check out:
Kahului Cost Of Living Vs. Hawaii
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kahului. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kahului is 127.
The Groceries index in Kahului is 120.
The Health index in Kahului is 278.
The Housing index in Kahului is 120.
The Transportation index in Kahului is 131.
The Utilities index in Kahului is 125.
| Living Expense | Kahului | Hawaii | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 170 | 163 | 100 |
| Services | 127 | 124 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 278 | 253 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 131 | 132 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 128 | 100 |
Kahului Cost Of Living Compared To Hawaii Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Hawaii, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kahului Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kahului, HI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Hawaii, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Kahului is $1,035,497.
The Median Rent in Kahului is $1,488.
The Median Income in Kahului is $98,077.
The Home Value To Income in Kahului is 10.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kahului is 0.18x.
Kahului, HI Costs By Category
Detailed Kahului Services costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kahului Groceries costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kahului Health costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kahului Transportation costs vs. Hawaii
Kahului SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kahului
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kahului. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kihei, HI has a cost of living index of 177, 1.0x Kahului.
Wailuku, HI has a cost of living index of 170, 1.0x Kahului.
Waihee-Waiehu, HI has a cost of living index of 165, 1.0x Kahului.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kahului |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kihei, HI | 21,567 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Wailuku, HI | 16,926 | 170 | 1.0x |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 165 | 1.0x |
| Lahaina, HI | 10,162 | 189 | 1.1x |
| Haiku-Pauwela, HI | 9,178 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Pukalani, HI | 8,679 | 179 | 1.1x |
| Makawao, HI | 7,353 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Napili-Honokowai, HI | 7,308 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Kula, HI | 6,791 | 228 | 1.3x |
| Wailea, HI | 6,352 | 236 | 1.4x |
